Chris Grainger: 1:43

Welcome to the Lion Within Us, a podcast serving Christian men who are hungry to be the leaders God intends you to be. I'm your host, Chris Granger. Let's jump in. All right, guys, meet episode time. Let's get into it. Okay. So the scripture of the week this week is Psalm 37.5. Commit your way to the Lord. Trust in him. And he whacked. Guys, that scripture right there hits right at the core, the core of what we need to hear as Christian men. And I'm going to tell you what, I try to unpack that one, that link to you for you guys in our spiritual kickoff episode this week. So go back one in your podcast feed if you haven't listened to it yet. It's all about simplifying and applying God's word. And guys, this is what we do Monday through Friday in the Lion Within Us. We simplify and apply God's word to help us be the leader he intends us to be. So if you are not plugged into our daily spiritual kickoff and you enjoy anything we do on the podcast, what are you waiting for? Head over to thelionwithin.us. Start your daily spiritual kickoff now, okay? Get that, I'm telling you guys, get that started. We really lean in hard there. Try to encourage guys each and every day. Of course, we have our community, we have our masterminds, but the daily SKO, fellas, that that's that's where it's all at, okay? So I'm pumped up for this episode because this is going to be just it blew me away. Just it blew me away. I got a chance to meet this young man. His name is Drew Parker in uh Florida back in October of 2025. I met him at the conference. I was there with Pastor Jovi and his wonderful team. We were we had a behind, we're kind of doing a little tour behind the scenes and got a chance to run into Drew, fun conversation. He rocked the stage the whole weekend uh and just a phenomenal guy. So we were able to connect and have him on the show here. And uh he's Grammy CMA Award nominated singer-songwriter. Uh he's from Covington, Georgia. Uh his just the way he writes, it's timeless, it's heartfelt. His uh and he has that classic country type of tradition and sound. So I for one, I just love him. I mean, the type of stuff he sings is just it's it's spot on. But uh he worked pretty he works pretty regularly with Luke Combs. So if you guys know Luke Combs, if you're big fans of his, lots of stuff that he's done, he's worked with Luke directly. But he's started a new phase in life, and you're gonna hear the whole story where God called him out of secular country music into Christian music. Okay, and and the way he's doing it, it's uh it's pretty interesting. So just sitting back and watching and listening, you're gonna see some great things here. His his number one Christian song right now is Blame Jesus. Love it. It's a phenomenal song. You guys are gonna absolutely love this. I mean, he again, Drew was raised up in the red clay of Covenant Georgia boys. So I mean he was listening to the 90 country artists that I did, like Ronnie Dunn, Travis Tritt, all those types of guys. And and and Drew, uh, he has has got so much of his inspiration from his song, from for his songs from those, from that era. So man, you I think you guys are just totally gonna enjoy this one. Uh again, he's married, a couple little girls. He talks about those, but just uh absolute uh an honor to be able to sit back and hear his testimony and hear how God is moving in his life, guys. This is just unbelievable. Hopefully, you guys are gonna enjoy this one. So sit back, have a little bit of fun, my friend Drew Parker. Drew, welcome to The Line Within Us. How are you doing today, man? I'm good. How are you? I'm doing good. I'm doing good. It's a beautiful day here in North Carolina, and I don't know what it's like in Tennessee, but man, it's uh starting to feel yeah, it's feeling like winter now, man.

Drew Parker: 5:19

It is, it is. It's cold, man. I I went down to Georgia. I grew up in Georgia and I went down there for Thanksgiving. It was cold down there, uh, but got back to Tennessee and it's it's it's a little colder.

Chris Grainger: 5:30

That's it. That's it. Well, we always like to start our show, Drew, with uh something fun about the guest that maybe not many people know about. So a lot of people know you and and are familiar with your work, but maybe what's a little nugget about Drew that maybe uh not many people are aware of? Oh man, I have I have a degree, I have a college degree in radiology. In radiology? Yeah. Okay, okay. So what I mean, what made you pursue that? That's a very specific degree there.

Drew Parker: 6:00

Well, when I got out of uh when I got out of high school, I had I had took some college classes in high school. And so I had some college credits coming out of high school, and I knew that I wanted to pursue music. And so I started looking at degrees. I'm not a doctor, I'm not a radiologist, so uh, but I started looking at degrees uh that I could use the credits that I had already gotten that would get me a college degree quickly so that I could get to Nashville and chase this crazy dream that I had of playing, playing and writing songs. And so through my investigation in that process, I realized I learned that the credits that I had would kind of help me. And one of the quickest degrees I could get was uh a radiology degree. I thought medical field, if I had to fall back on it, that's probably a good place to go. So I started looking at medical field, didn't want to be a nurse, that's not for me. Um, and so wound up in the radiology field and so got a degree in a couple years, and you know, it was good because it um it allowed me to I I would work in my hometown for a few years out of college, but ultimately landed a job at a hospital in Nashville, and that kind of paved the way uh to make money while supporting the dream of playing music. But right.

Chris Grainger: 7:18

So that was kind of your tent making if we go back to Paul. There you go. It it it was very cool, man. Well, I mean, we got to meet in Florida at uh Pastor Jovi's conference, probably the most incredible men's conference I've ever been to. And just curious, how how'd you guys get connected, man? I know he's discipled you and you you mentioned your your relationship. I've been connected with Joby for years now. I'm just that guy blows me away every time we get together. So, man, what what is it like for you two? How'd you guys cross path?

Drew Parker: 7:47

Man, um so um I I I moved to Nashville um 10 years ago, and through the course of that um 10-year process in 2020, um, and we can dig more into this, but in 2020 I signed a record deal um with Warner Music Nashville, now I think Warner Records Nashville. Um basically the Nashville version of Warner Music Group. And so um I signed a record deal, took a song to Country Radio, and I'm touring all over the country uh playing shows, but in the middle between shows, I would travel through the country and basically visit radio stations. Well, there was a guy that worked for Warner, he still works there. His name is Lou Ramirez. Um he goes to Church of 1122. His wife is actually one of Joby's um assistants. And um so he obviously knew Joby, he knew I was a believer, um, but in the world that I was in, you know, it it's hard to keep the faith. I mean, it really is, it's it's a struggle. And um, so I think he kind of put me under his wing, Lou did, in a sense of I need to make sure this boy stays on the straight path and doesn't get taken over by the world. And so, man, he just began, as me and him are traveling the country, literally visiting radio stations, we would talk about the Lord, and um, he started mentioning this Joby Martin guy. He was like, my pastor, and he's like, he's written a book, and he was like, I'm gonna get you the book. And so he got me the book, and it was it the tomb is empty. And so I had that book for probably a year and a half, and man, the Lord just began to work on me, and I was like, I need to read that book. And so I read that book, and dude, it literally just turned my world upside down that somebody spoke my language and talked about the Lord in a way that I could understand and comprehend. And so Joby found out I was a fan of the book, and last year I was on tour with uh my friend Luke Combs. We were playing uh NFL college football stadiums all over the country, and one of those just so happened to be the Jags Stadium in Jacksonville, and Joby had found out that I was a fan of his book. Joby's obviously a country music fan, and so he invited me to go play golf with him while we were down there, and so we played a round of golf. And I think to this day he would tell you it's the best round of golf he ever played because I showed up and I was like, this guy's not gonna be very good at golf. And he shot lights out.

Chris Grainger: 10:22

I was gonna ask you how good a golf is.

Drew Parker: 10:24

And I was like, what can't this guy do? And to and I didn't know this at the time, but like I found out since he he would say that's the best round he's ever played. And uh, and so anyway, man, we just hit it off, and the very next week he calls me and he's like, Man, I just feel like the Lord's laid you on my heart and I would like to disciple you if you would be open to that. And I was like, Are you kidding? And so that was um about a year and a half ago. And so, man, he's just been just a massive influence in my life and really what the Lord's done in my life in the last year. I mean, I realized that God started putting, I think God recognized some obedience from me about two and a half, three years ago. And when God recognized that obedience, I believe that he started to prepare me in that moment of obedience. He started to prepare me for what he has me in now and what I'm doing now with my life. And so he began putting these men in my life. And I didn't know it at the time. I mean, when I met Joby, I was I wanted to be a famous country singer.

Chris Grainger: 11:27

Yeah.

Drew Parker: 11:28

And and and the Lord put him in my life and and put other men in my life. Lou, uh Joby, the men's pastor at my church, Will. Um, I got I joined a D group like a year ago with some guys that I was starting to get to know. And so the Lord really just started putting men in my life, and one of those being Joby Martin to prepare me for the moment that I'm in now.

Chris Grainger: 11:48

I mean you spoke of the the obedience that you started taking. What what what were some of those steps of obedience? I'm super curious what what that was like.

Drew Parker: 11:58

The f the first for me was uh a financial obedience.

Chris Grainger: 12:02

Okay.

Drew Parker: 12:04

Um I I grew up in a family that that gave regularly to the church. Um, but for me, I you know, growing up when I started my family, it was that was not a priority for me. And um the Lord began to bless my career as far as writing songs. Um I I've written songs for other country artists, and and the Lord began to bless me in that way, and I was not, you know, replenishing and giving back the Lord what he had given to me. And I I began to get convicted of that. And I truly think one of those, you know, markers of obedience and the Lord recognizing something in my life was me being obedient with my with my giving. And and the Lord really began to change my heart and tune my heart towards him through that process. Um, and I think when the Lord recognized that obedience, he was like, Okay, I I I think I think this guy might be ready for what I've got for him. And and and he just began, man, just putting things in my life that really just began to kind of change my direction. And and too, I I it wasn't all sunshine and and rainbows and roses, right? I mean, uh the Lord for me, for him to when I think he recognized that obedience and he began to put these men in my life, he also at the same time began to remove a joy from my heart, which was um being on stage, playing country music. Um, not that I wasn't having fun doing it, but when I would get off stage, I just sensed that the Lord had more for me and that I I just wasn't very happy. And I should have been. This was my dream. I I'm playing in front of, you know, 60 to 80,000 people on a Saturday night in a football stadium, and for 20 to 30 minutes on stage, I was having fun, but I would get off stage and just I felt like something was not right. And um, so it was just a process. I think God recognized obedience, and then for him to be able to get my attention, he, you know, he began to remove joy, which began to make me ask questions and and really seek the Lord. And through the process of seeking the Lord, um, you know, he kind of revealed through a miraculous way what he has for me now.

Chris Grainger: 14:21

Man, you can't say that's a cliffhanger of all cliffhangers. So we've got to understand what's the miraculous way he revealed it, man. I mean, this is an incredible story.

Drew Parker: 14:30

So uh December, it's it's funny that me and you were talking today because it was literally a year ago today, um December 1st, 2024. Um again, have been surrounded by these men. I'm growing closer with the Lord, not really happy um in my career as far as like I don't there was a lot of frustration. I mean um I was frustrated with my record label at the time. Um I I wasn't having a I mean, I was having fun on the road, but something just wasn't right. And you know, I had asked my record label to send the song back to country radio they finally had, and so I I'm battling with this for so long I I struggled with like you know, I think the Lord has something different for me, but at the same time, I'm like, God, my record label is sending a song back to country radio. I had just put out a full 12-song, 11, 12-song record, full-length album. Um, this was in the middle of 2024. This was like six months prior to this prayer that I had prayed. And okay, so you were what yeah.

Chris Grainger: 15:41

Yeah.

Drew Parker: 15:42

I mean, so I I'm bad, I'm wrestling with this. God, I think you might have something more for me, but like also everything that I have ever dreamed of is happening over here. And so like it's this tug and pull. And so, but ultimately, on December 1st, 2024, I'm at my church uh here in Nashville, church called Long Hollow. And come on. Uh we'll have to come back to that because you're talking about Pastor Robbie. Robbie Galladi, yeah, he's my pastor.

Chris Grainger: 16:10

All right, we've got to come back to that because that all right, yeah.

Drew Parker: 16:13

And so I I'm at church on a Sunday morning, it's December 1st, 2024, and I just in in the moment of all this stuff just flooding me, and and you know, the joy of of music had kind of removed a little bit, and um at least playing shows. I just prayed this prayer of God. I feel like what you have for me right now is not what I'm doing. I feel like you have more for me. I feel like you have a bigger purpose and plan for my life than what I'm doing right now. Um and I'm not exactly sure what it is you have for me, but I'm ready to hear what you have for me. But God, I've been stubborn, I've been ignorant, I'm hard of hearing, obviously, and I need you to tell me what you want from me, what you have for me, and I need you to tell me in a way that leaves no denial. When you tell me, I need it to be so obvious exactly what it is you want me to do that I can't deny it. Amen. I mean, that's I literally prayed that. Amen. And I went about my week. It was a Sunday, um, and I went about the rest of my week just really not even thinking anything about it. It just, you know, said a prayer and, you know, whatever. Five days later, December 6, 2024, my manager uh of 10 years, uh, my music, he manages my music career. He also manages Luke Combs and a bunch of other uh big country acts. Uh he's been my manager for 10 years. And uh I was the second artist that he ever started working with, Luke being the first. And he calls me. Now his name is Chris Cappy. Cappy is an unbeliever. Um and he calls me and he and he's telling me, man, I I know me and my wife were out Christmas shopping. Um he calls me, I put him on a speakerphone, so me and my wife are sitting in the car and he's like, Man, I know that country music is your dream. It's everything you've worked for, it's all you've ever wanted, and we worked so hard together, and he's just going on and on and on. And I'm thinking he's preparing and trying to figure out a way to tell me he we're no longer gonna work together, whatever. I I didn't really know what to expect. But he's like kind of beating around the bush, and I'm like, Cappy, I don't know what you're trying to tell me, but just tell me, man. And he goes, Man, I don't know how to tell you this, but for the last week I've been waking up in the middle of the night around three o'clock in the morning, and there's this voice or something telling me, again, Cappy's an unbeliever. There's a voice or something telling me that I'm supposed to tell you that you're supposed to be a Christian artist and you're supposed to sing songs about Jesus. You want to talk about the most I I mean, I I was just flabbergasted. I I I couldn't wrap my head around the fact that five days prior to this I had said this prayer. God send me a sign of what it is, and you're telling me he sends me an unbeliever, he starts waking an unbeliever up in the middle of the night to tell me that I'm supposed to change directions and be a Christian artist and sing songs about Jesus. Like there's no coincidence here. Like, I don't there that's just don't happen. And and so I I I begin to tell Cappy, listen, man, I can't believe this. Like I just like he thinks I'm mad at him and he like trying to backtrack and I'm like, Cappy, no, like listen, man, I prayed five days ago that God would send me a sign that I'm supposed to do something different if that's what he wants from me. And you're telling me you God's been waking you up in the middle of the night? And he goes, When did you pray this prayer? And I was like, Sunday morning. And he goes, That's funny. Sunday night's when I started waking up in the middle of the night. And I'm like, at this point, I'm like, Cappy, you realize this is God, right? And he goes, Yeah, man, I recognize that. And so the Lord's been doing a work in his life over the last year. Um, keep, you know, pray for him. Um, it's it's been an awesome journey to kind of you know be go through this over the last year with him. And just man, I I can't stress enough, like for one, obedi like bold prayers will prayer period will be answered. It may not be in our time, it's always in God's time. Um bold prayers can be scary, but and and you better be careful when you pray on because God will answer them and there's no telling what he'll ask you to do. And so, man, when that happened the very next week, I asked out of my record deal six months after putting out my first full-length project. Took me seven months to get out of my deal and began writing Christian country songs. I'm still writing country songs for any artist that wants to cut them. So I I don't the Lord has not asked me to stop doing that. Um but as far as what I'm putting out under my name as an artist, it's country music that just talks about Jesus and talks about what he's done in my life and what he's continuing to do. And man, I just hope that people through this can find the Lord and find salvation and hear the gospel. Um, some some some of these folks, I think, that will hear this, it'll be the first time they've ever heard the gospel. Um, and so man, I'm just excited for what where the Lord's got me right now. And it it look again, it all started. I truly believe this whole journey started with one act of obedience, followed by another act of obedience and just being obedient to what the Lord had for me, and he began to. Prepare me for the moment he's in now. And he began to prepare the heart and and the mind of an unbeliever to reveal this thing for me. Like that is so hard for me to wrap my head around. Like if you can't believe in a God, a sovereign God that can do that, I'm this is not a made-up story. This this this so happened to me that God woke up unbeliever up in the middle of the night to tell me something that he was terrified to tell me. I mean, he was he did not want to tell me this. He wrestled with it for a week before he called me on a Friday and finally surrendered to say, man, I I've got I've been told to tell you this. You can do with it what you want to. And fortunately, it was something that I was seeking. And I mean, God is so good, and it's just you know, I mean, that's crazy.

Chris Grainger: 22:36

That's incredible, Drew. That's incredible. Look, we're gonna take our first break, guys, and we'll come back and keep digging in with him. Let's just say it out loud. Marriage is one of the greatest gifts that God can give a man. And one of the most consistent places where we can feel unsure of what we're doing. Even the strongest marriages have moments where you look at your wife and you think, you know what? I love you. I'm so committed to you. But right now, I have no idea what I should do next. And that's why we launched something new inside the lion within us community. It's our very first support group. And it's for husbands. And we're calling it committed and occasionally confused. This isn't just a place for men in crisis. So if you're there, hey, you're welcome. This is for any man who refuses to coast and wants to take his marriage from good to great. So inside, you'll find an active chat and a feed and honest conversations and brotherhood that says, you're not alone. We've been there. Let's bring this to God and grow. And we're also doing a monthly couples night where your wife is invited because we're not letting the world set the agenda for our homes. Now, if you want access to this support group, it's very simple. Go to thelionwithin.us and join the Lion's Den. Okay, that's thelionwithin.us. Start your 30-day free trial of the Lion's Den community, and boom, you have instant access to the committed and occasionally confused support group. We'll see you inside the den. So, Drew, I got I gotta ask when you were going through that story. You mentioned that when he when he called you, you were with your wife, you were Christmas shopping, and for some reason, when you told me the story, Abraham and Sarah came in to mind. And I want to know from her perspective, you're a successful country music artist. You got an album that you that she probably saw you pour your blood, sweat, tears to put that album out. You're you're getting the success, momentum's building, God's calling you to something different. What was her reaction? I mean, I could I I can only imagine that was a little bit scary of, hey, I think I'm gonna go down this path now, and and I don't know what's gonna happen, babe, but I'm curious what take us to that moment with her.

Drew Parker: 24:49

Yeah, you know, I I think for one, I think I think she had sensed some, you know, frustration um in my career. I mean, uh, and again, I had a song at Country Radio. I mean, it was it was doing its thing at the time, you know, so we were excited about that, but I think she also sent some frustration. And it's funny, like, I'm not making this part of the story up either. 20 minutes prior to Cappy calling me, I had literally just told her, hey, if the song at the at Country Radio that I had at the time was a song called Love the Leaving. And I said, if Love the Leaving kind of stops doing its thing, I think I'm done. I think I'm gonna ask out of my record. I don't know what that'll entail, but I just can't keep doing this. Like, so if this don't work, I think I think you know it it'll be done. And I'm not kidding you, 20 minutes later, Cappy calls me and I'm like, well, I guess we're at I you know, all of our all of my prayer and all of my questions had just been answered in a phone call. And so, man, we sat there, we cried in the parking lot, right in front of a bath and body works. I could take you right to the parking spot it all happened in. And right. Um, and so I mean, I might one day I might donate some money for them to I don't I don't know what it's called, but where you put the 12 stones, one of those 12 stone statues.

Chris Grainger: 26:07

You go to the altar right there.

Drew Parker: 26:08

Yeah. Um, it's like, look what God did here. And so yeah, man, she's been so supportive. You know, I mean, obviously for her, it was it was scary. I mean, it was scary for me. You know, I I didn't know what to expect. I getting out of a record deal is not very easy. Um, but dude, I will say, when I when all this happened, I knew it was so from God, like like nothing I've ever experienced in my life that I knew he would make a way, he would provide, and he would figure it out. That I I literally was not stressed at all through this process because I just kept my focus on the Lord and knew that he would make it happen how he wanted to make it happen. And it honestly grew my faith so much because I I I don't know that I've ever had more faith in the Lord than over the last year watching him provide and make this change happen. Because it was nothing that I could do. I mean, that it was gonna have to be him that that made it happen. Um, and and he did, and and so it was miraculous. I mean, it was crazy for both of us to experience together in that moment, and um to think it's been a year now since I prayed that prayer, a year ago today, um is just I mean, it it's a real miracle.

Chris Grainger: 27:28

I don't know how else to say it. That's pretty cool, man. Well, I'm wearing this shirt, you know, called Blame Jesus, and I and I love wearing it, by the way, because this this has been such a conversation starter for me. Uh the funniest place I wore it was in the hospital when I had to go after I met you that next week. I actually was in the hospital for a week because I had a staph infection from a broken ankle. So the blame Jesus shirt got a lot of attention, bro. So it was a good conversation. But I'm curious, man, like that song, so bold, you know, it's such a strong message. You know, how how did God give that one to you? Because I feel like so many of these things are God just gives it to us, man. So I'm just curious, what is what did that journey look like?

Drew Parker: 28:09

Yeah. Um, well, you know, when all this happened, I I began to pray God. And dude, I used to make excuses. I would have even one of the guys that kind of came into my life when the Lord started kind of steering me in this direction a couple years ago before I ever knew that this is where the Lord was taking me. Um the men's pastor at my church began to intentionally like disciple me. And we started meeting on Monday mornings. And so he used to ask me, Why don't you why don't you write some songs about the Lord? And I would literally make the excuse. How am I supposed to write a story that's already been written? Like, like in country music, I make up stuff all the time. Right. I don't know how to write a uh like a factual story. Like I it's already been written right here. Like, how am I and I would literally make excuses for writing these songs? And so uh after all this happened, I prayed, Lord, send me ideas. Send me ideas for these songs. What do you want me to say? What do you want my voice to be used for for men and kids and people who've never heard the gospel but love country music, what do you want me to say to them? And dude, the first song that he gave me was a song called Weight of the World. It's a song that's not out yet. Hopefully it'll it'll maybe I'll put it out next year, I hope. Um that was the first one, and I got to thinking like all the weight that we carry. Um, if you could take all the weight that we carry in our life and put it on a scale, what would it weigh? What would the physical weight be? I think the physical weight of the weight that we carry, stress, anxiety, uh, temptation, um, you know, shame, guilt, addiction, whatever it may be, those weights that we carry, it would weigh, if you could put it on a scale and we it, it would weigh whatever the physical weight of the cross was. Because when Jesus put the cross on his back and walked it up Galgotha, he paid for all of that. We don't have to carry the weight because he already carried the cross and he died on it. All we have to do is surrender that weight to him. And so the weight of the world, it it weighs whatever the cross weighed. And so, and dude, when the Lord revealed that to me, I was like, holy smokes, if he keeps giving me ideas like this, we're gonna be right, this will be the best music that's ever written. And, you know, I mean, that's that one's a little like philosophical, like you gotta like kind of take your but I love writing songs that way. And then one day I got to thinking um about the story of the prodigal son. And um kind of putting my life in that story. I mean, I grew up in I grew up in the church, I've been a believer for a pretty much my whole life, you know. Like, I mean, just like a bunch of dudes in the south. I I think we all, we've known Jesus, we've been a believer our whole life. We got baptized when we were six, and you know, we just think that's good enough. And I didn't think that was good enough. I believed that I made a decision that Jesus died for me. And and I mean, I believed the gospel, but I didn't live like it. I didn't, I was not a disciple. My sanctification process was long. I was not dis I was not in a disciple-making mindset. I was in a, I got some fire insurance when I was young, but I'm not a disciple. And I began to get convicted of that. And so um I began to talk, think of my journey over the last, you know, really my whole life, but the last 10 years I've been in Nashville, um, and where the Lord's brought me from and and really what's happened in the last year, where where I was and and what's happened in the last year, uh-huh. Man, I can't take credit for any of it. I can only blame Jesus. And I got to think about that. I was like, blame Jesus. That's an eye-catchy little little nugget there. That will catch the eye of some people. I was like, how do I write that song? And so I began to think of the prodigal son. Like, he could only blame Jesus for the grace that he received from his father. Like, Jesus is the only, I mean, that you talk about grace, like to allow me to be where I'm at now over the things that I've done in my past to allow me, to give me the platform now, like that's a bunch of grace that was extended to me, and I can't take credit for it. I can only blame Jesus for the grace that he's given me. And so start, you know, just started, man, digging into that song with a couple friends of mine. I had that idea and told them about it, and fortunately they liked it enough to write it with me. And so, you know, I can't I think the song says, if you're wondering why I can't be who I was, blame Jesus. And so it was the the first song. I I thought it was a great first song to kind of launch into this new area of Christian country music that I'm putting out, and I just thought it was a good one to put out first because I mean, truly, I I wouldn't be where I was if it wasn't for the Lord and and what he's done in my life and provided and protected me along the way. Um and and allowing me really, and and too, man, I don't think that over the last ten years of my career, I don't believe that I ever walked through a door that God didn't open. I I don't. I I don't believe that I went and had to beat down doors that God was trying to close. I I think the god the Lord was preparing me all along for where he's got me now. Um and man, he's just provided a way for me. And I just hope that through this whole process and through this music that for one, that people would take the Lord serious. I mean, I for so long I didn't, you know. I again I I got some fire insurance when I was a young kid and and um you know Cappy, my manager, after after he called me a year ago that Christmas, I it was you know, I had it on my heart that I wanted to get him a Bible, and so I bought him a Bible. And Cappy now he's in his mid-50s, and so he unwraps this gift I give him and he opens up, and as he's opening up, he's taking it out of the box, he's he begins to cry a little bit, and he says, Is this a Bible? And I said, It is. And he's smiling and and he goes, I've never had one. And man, I felt like a loser. This man who's who I love so much, who's been who's managed my career, who's been in my life for 10 years, I'm supposed to be the Christian, and this man is in his mid-50s, and you're telling me he's never had a Bible, and I he's been my manager for 10 years. What have I been doing? I'm a loser. I and I realized that I hadn't taken the Lord serious. I hadn't taken the commit, the great commission, you know.

Chris Grainger: 34:45

Yeah.

Drew Parker: 34:46

Go make disciples. I hadn't taken that serious. I was like, I got I'm I'm taken care of. I'll be there when the role is caught up yonder. I'll be there and I didn't care about nobody else. Like, and I've in in that moment I felt like a loser. And so I I just want to encourage men, like, let's friggin' get serious. Like, what are we doing? Like, let's get serious about the Lord. Like, if we I and I've said it so many times, I want to see change in the world. I like, let's be the change. Like, if you get serious about the Lord and start telling people about Jesus, like we're not, we're not gonna change the world, but Jesus can. And Jesus can change the world through us, but we have to seek him. We got to pick up our cross daily, we got to seek him. And and I began to read and dig into the word more than I ever have in my life. I mean, I I mean, I don't know hardly anything in this book. I I don't I can't memorize it. I can't I have a hard time memorizing words to songs that I wrote. So memorizing scripture has been tough. That's my prayer. God, give me the recall that I can just go back and memorize. And so, but man, I began to journal. Like every day I sit down and I read a chapter of the New Testament and I will journal this through this chapter. And it has been there's there's a reason that that God says, Come to me and I will give you rest. Yeah. Like when you are in him and in his word, he will give you rest. Like it's so, it's it's crazy. And I just, man, I just want to encourage men who are kind of where I was, one foot in the world, one foot in the church, one foot with the Lord. Like, man, let's get serious. Let's get serious. Like, let's take the Lord serious and and really get to know him and seek out what he has for us and just be obedient to what he has for our lives.

Chris Grainger: 36:37

Man, that's so powerful. I mean, I'm super curious too. Like for Cappy, you gave him the Bible, there were tears, there's emotion. He's seen a change in you, obviously, from you know, over the last year in particular. Where do you think this is headed with you and him?

Drew Parker: 36:52

Man, I I don't I don't know. It's it's so exciting. I mean, right now, um, you know, it's taken a year, but I mean, and I and I've encouraged him along the way. And and again, I've tried not to be too pushy. I don't want to push anybody away. I I want them to I listen, I want them to stick around close enough to see the change the Lord's done to me and just be like, I need some of that. Well, if I push them away, they're not gonna see that. So, you know, I I've encouraged him. I'll send them stuff, I'll send them anytime I s really anytime I I feel like the Lord just says, send this to him or whatever, I'll just that's what I'll do. And so um, you know, anytime I hear a Joby message or a Robbie Gallage message or whatever, I'll just kind of send it to him. And so a few weeks ago, um, I invited him to church, and I've invited him a few times, but I finally I was like, hey, bro, you are coming with me. Like, put it on your calendar. And so he's going to church with me uh in two weeks. It'll be the first time he's going with me. And then about a month ago, uh he randomly texted me, and you'll you'll get a kick out of the story. He randomly texted me, and he had his Bible opened up to Genesis, and he just said, Thank you. And I go, Man, I could cry right now. I'm so proud of you. By the way, don't start in Genesis. And so he goes, wait, read the New Testament first. And I was like, Yeah, that'd probably be a good place to start. Yeah, yeah. So anyway, man, he's finished, he just finished uh the book of Matthew. And so he started, he texted me uh last Friday, maybe, and said I'm about to start reading Mark. And so um, I mean, and he and he, man, I mean, this, you know, he's even said, Man, I feel so much peace reading this. And I'm like, wait till you get to John. Wait till you get to the book of John, man, and you realize that there's a man who died for you. Like, wait. And so, man, just so excited for what uh God has for him. Man, I I truly believe in all my whole heart. There's no way that Cappy doesn't surrender his life to the Lord one of these days. And um I I'm so excited for that day. And man, I just I know what the influence that he also has. And I'm telling you, I know the a choir of angels will rejoice when he gives us, but I'm telling you, all of Nashville will be just turning upside down when this man gives his gives his life to the Lord. So just be praying for him.

Chris Grainger: 39:16

Absolutely, I love it. And and I'm super curious on Robbie and and and Long Hollow. So I start I got turned on to them about two years ago. A pastor buddy of mine said you need to listen to this pastor. And um, so when I started is when he started the Revelation series. Yeah. So I listened to every one of those sermons. Wow. So I I usually listen to him when I'm running on a trail that here, just running in the woods, man. Nothing, nothing fancy, but I learned a ton from that dude. And I got a lot of respect for him. Like what led you to Long Hollow?

Drew Parker: 39:48

Uh well, we got invited there. Um, and uh just full transparency. Uh, we've been going there, let's see. We we our first Sunday there, Robbie just celebrated 10 years at Long Hollow, and our first Sunday there was his one-year anniversary there. So we've been going there nine years. Um and I I full transparency, when I first went there, the music was so good, I was like, this is where we're going. Like that's what that's what kept me like going, because the music was just incredible. And then I started like wrapping my head around what Robbie was saying, and dude, he just brings a whole different knowledge. Um, and if you know his testimony, what the Lord's where the Lord's brought him from. I mean, for those of you listening that don't know, I mean, he was a $200 a day, he had a $200 a day heroin addiction. Um, and I believe it was heroin. It was a a $200 a day really bad drug addiction, and the Lord radically saved him, changed his life, and now he pastors uh one of the largest churches probably in the South for sure. But um and and anyway, um man, I I just started really getting into what he was saying, and then in 20 when was it? I guess 2021 maybe we the church saw a massive revival happen, um, or twenty twenty two. And I mean, like crazy revival. Like the Lord like it exploded. I mean, it was crazy. And um So to get to be a part of that and and watch that and and honestly, man, I I look back at that and I was like, Man, I I watched that happen and I really I didn't participate 'cause I was still so set in my own Selfish ways, couldn't remove my pride because I was so I just wanted I wanted my career to work. And I I felt like I couldn't make my career work and do what the Lord had for me. And you know, I I felt, you know, obviously looking back, I'm like, you big dummy. Um you missed out on what what you're in now. You could have had it, you know, years ago. And but I, you know, I say all that to say, like, I wanted two things in my life. I wanted to be rich and I wanted to be famous. And after looking back on that, I didn't want to be rich and famous for the sake of being rich and famous. I wanted those two things because when I when I started, I again I love music. I've always loved music. I wanted to write songs, I wanted to be involved, I wanted country music was my dream. That's what I wanted. It transitioned to me wanting to be rich and famous. And the reason I wanted those two things is because the people that always that said I would never do it, or that doubted me or never encouraged me or never supported me, like I wanted to prove them wrong. That's really where it came from. Well, how do you prove somebody who says you won't do it? How could I prove them wrong? Well, in my head, the only way to prove them wrong was to be rich and to be famous. If I could be famous, if I could be recognized, if I could have tons of money, then that would be my evidence that I made it to the people that doubted me. And so then my then that's that became the whole thing. It was like I've got to prove these people wrong. And the only way to do that is to get these things. Well, then you begin to enjoy those things. And and that becomes the driving force behind everything. And then, man, then the Lord just got a hold of my heart. And um, you know, I I yeah, I don't even know why I said all that, but um it it r the Lord used my selfish pride um to really get a hold of me and and to really move into what he has for me. Uh but yeah, he I mean he my church long hollow, I mean, they were Robbie very influential in this whole in this whole journey that I've been on. Amen, brother.

Chris Grainger: 43:49

Amen. Guys, we're gonna take a quick break, come back and keep digging with Drew. If there is one habit that can change a home, it's this when a husband prays with his wife, not because it's a magic formula, but because it recenters your marriage under God's authority and care. And let's be honest, a lot of guys want to do it, but most don't know how to start without it feeling awkward. Maybe you tried it before and it felt forced, or maybe you've never tried it because you don't even know what to say. Or maybe you're thinking, man, I'm not a pastor, I'm just a guy. And that's why we created this guide. It's our how to pray with your wife. Simple guide. It's biblical, it's practical, and it's designed to help you start praying with your wife in a way that actually feels natural. So it's a five-section guide and it gives you a simple framework to get started. Okay, it makes sure everything is grounded in scripture, and it also has a powerful PDF that you can pull up whenever you need, especially when things get off, because they're gonna get off. That's normal. So this is all about reclaiming your marriage and reclaiming the spiritual leadership reigns of your home because praying with your wife is one of the strongest ways to fight for unity, to build trust, and to right the ship when life starts to pull you off a course. So if you're ready, get access today at thelionwithin.us slash guides. That's thelionwithin.us slash guides, and start unleashing the lion within at home by leading your marriage through prayer. All right, Drew. So I mean, long hollow, you got stuff going in in the Christian music now. You know, where do you think God's taking you? Where's next on the journey?

Drew Parker: 45:40

Ooh, man, I I have no idea. I I've just through the last year, I've just tried to lay my yes on the table, just whatever God has for me, just you know, go do it. Um instead of instead of sitting back, I feel like this is a good analogy. Instead of sitting back and looking at all these doors and going, all right, God, what when you open one, I'll go walk, you know, through it. Instead of doing that, I'm literally just walking up to every door. And if God opens it, then I'll walk through it. If it closes it, then I'll go find I'll walk to the next door. Instead of sitting back and waiting on what God has. Um, and so man, I I don't I I honestly have no clue. I mean, I've got some songs that I still want to put out. Um, you know, it it in my own selfish way, I would love to do kind of recreate the 1122 men's conference and do that. Um tell my testimony and and play my music and really just encourage men to get serious with the Lord. And right, and you know, and so that's really kind of where my heart is at, is is geared towards men, I guess, at the you know, but I I don't know what I have no idea what the Lord has planned. I'm I'm thankful that I get to do it with music, and that's you know, I think that's the gift that he's given me. You know, he allowed me to build a platform over the last 10 years, and you know, now to get to use that platform for his glory and to talk about him, to get to do podcasts and talk about what the Lord's done in my life and just encourage men. Like, I don't know, I don't know what he has for me. I just, you know, every day I wake up and just try to get to love him and and know him more and just pass that along the way, you know.

Chris Grainger: 47:30

Well, it's kind of cool too. Like, if you all the stats, if you look out there, like all the stats are showing the younger generation, they're leaning in more and more, they're looking for truth, they're seeking it. And then, you know, you're coming in with your music, with your message. I think there's just a massive opportunity out there, particularly for young men that want to connect with a message that is that is founded in biblical truth, but also man, just like if you haven't heard the song Blame Jesus, guys, what are you waiting on? Like, go stop the podcast, go listen to it. I mean, it's like it it hits just right, you know. So I think you're set up in a in a time that's super interesting just to see how many guys are leaning in right now.

Drew Parker: 48:11

Yeah. Yeah, it is. And and it's so funny. I I you know, obviously it's it's it's not um it's not easy to to bypass the the negative, you know, whatever, you know. Right. And so, you know, obviously I've seen people say, what an opportunistic time for you to be releasing this song, or or you know, funny how you move into this as it's kind of blowing up and your country music career failed, or whatever, you know, but I just know that's a tactic of the enemy.

Chris Grainger: 48:42

And that's it, man.

Drew Parker: 48:43

And I know that I know that he is out to only he only has one job and it's to kill, steal, and destroy. And and I know that, you know, he's trying to use me to destroy, you know, my family. He, you know, to just you know, whatever it be, or or as as I'm trying to get the gospel out and encourage men, he's trying to keep silence me and and use all the things to silence me. And um, you know, so I I just pray that the Lord would just continue to you know fill me with his spirit to to keep pushing through and you know, open the doors that he that he wants to open. You know, I yeah, I just I just want to be a light and and encourage people along the way.

Chris Grainger: 49:26

Well, you you mentioned earlier, and and I gotta pull on this a little bit. You mentioned earlier obedience, that obedience, you the steps that you took of obedience that led to really a lot of a lot of this going into motion. So what does obedience right now look like for Drew Parker? You know, what what what does that look like?

Drew Parker: 49:44

Uh just I mean for me right now it's it's you know staying in the word, making sure that, you know, I'm spending my time with the Lord. And and not, you know, uh I feel like this is a saying that keeps coming up in my life, but um making sure that I don't get so busy doing for God that I forget to be with God. And so like I feel like we can get so b like I can get so busy like making sure I'm doing the social content and all this, all this stuff, and it just becomes repetition that I forget to spend intimate time with the Lord. And so making sure that I I'm I'm spending intimate time with him and being obedient to that time, to that sacred time of getting in the word and and just really just finding out more about the Lord and what he has for me. Um I mean, there's nothing like I I've found nothing like reading the word and and journaling it. And I would encourage you, I'm I know there's some there's so many menly men, manly men listening to this right now, and they're like, I ain't daggum journaling, that ain't what I do. And I I would encourage you. I was one of those people, that's why I can say that. There is so much. There is so much because you read with intentionality, you read with a different perspective. When you when you read something and you're like, what can I take away from this? You know, my prayer um every night before I do my quiet time and read my Bible and and journal. And I do a here journal. Um it so a here, it's an acronym. H is for highlight, E is for explain, A is for apply, R is for respond. So you high I read a chapter of the New Testament, I highlight one verse or a couple verses, I explain what's happening in the chapter and it and happening in those verses. How do I apply this to my life? And then respond is just a prayer, God, do this in me. Um and that that plot that program or journaling process has worked really well for me. Um, but my prayer every night before I do that is Psalm 119, 18. Lord, open my eyes and ears to hear wondrous things from your instruction. Like, help me, give me the wisdom and knowledge to know what you're saying. Give me the discernment to understand it and apply it to my life and to use it where where you see fit for me to help someone along the way. And and man, I listen, I'm not, I I got a long way to go. I've come a long way, but I got so much further to go. Like, I just my prayer right now is Lord, give me the help me recall these things, like embed them in my heart and in my head so that I can remember your word. And um, so yeah, that's that's where I'm trying to be obedient, just with my time with the Lord, making sure that it doesn't take us backseat or second place to anything, you know.

Chris Grainger: 52:50

Right. And as and as somebody, I mean that really resonates with me because as someone who creates content all day, every day. I'm writing I mean, I'm a writer for the Bible app. I got the podcast, I got all the stuff happening, right? And it's all good stuff, just like all the stuff you're doing is good stuff, it's for the Lord, it's for for unto him, it's to to draw others there, but it's nothing that's gonna replace that one-on-one connection and relationship with him, man. And that's I've had to teach myself that too. I still got a long way to go, just like you, you know, but it's but yeah.

Drew Parker: 53:20

I I I'm and I may have missed I there's a I was trying to get a say a quote, but and it and I may have I don't know if I said it exactly. I would have to look it up, but it's from a book by a guy named Peter Schizero, I think, and it's like emotional um something for your spirituality. Healthy emotional health for your spirituality, something like that. But it's the basically the print, there's a quote in there where he's like, don't get so busy doing for God that you forget to spend time with him. Um and and that was so that's such an impactful thing for me, is because like, again, I mean, I'm constantly trying to write songs and put out content, be a husband, be a father, that and like doing all the things that you can get so busy doing for God, serving all the things that you forget to, you know, spending intimate time with him takes a back seat. And so um, we just got to make sure that we're taking care of our heart with him.

Chris Grainger: 54:19

Well, and he didn't mention the father part, so you're a father as well. Okay. I am, yeah. How many yeah?

Drew Parker: 54:25

I got two girls. Two girls. Okay, what's the ages? Two girls. I got a uh one will be six in March, and uh my youngest is 16 months, or about to be 17 months.

Chris Grainger: 54:37

Okay, all right, man. Well, congratulations. Nothing like being a girl dad. I got three girls and a little guy and a little boy. But uh man, uh, he threw a wrench in all my plans. Being a girl dad's awesome, though. I mean I mean, not that being his dad isn't awesome, it's just different. But look, man, those girls are something else, brother. So man, they're amazing.

Drew Parker: 54:56

Yeah, they're amazing.

Chris Grainger: 54:58

Good stuff, man. Good stuff. Well, look at when we get to the end of our conversations, Drew. We always like to have a little fun lightning round. So if you're willing to jump in and play, we'll do it, man. Let's go. Let's go. All right, let's go, let's go. So what any hobbies? Obviously, music, uh, we've got to take music off the table. But any other, what do you enjoy doing for fun?

Drew Parker: 55:13

Yeah, I like I like to hunt. Uh um I'm a big I like to deer hunt. Uh and preferably bow hunting.

Chris Grainger: 55:22

Um bow hunting, okay.

Drew Parker: 55:23

Really bow hunting only. Uh I mean I'll I'll go shoot something with a deer if I need to, but I love to bow hunt. Um, I'm a big NASCAR fan. Uh and so I actually in during COVID a few years ago, I I bought uh a NASCAR simulator, so I got like a little virtual race cart uh. And so I got into that. Um who are you pulling for in NASCAR? Who I don't you know I don't really have a I really don't have a favorite driver. Okay. It's hard for me to pick just one. I I like a bunch of them.

Chris Grainger: 56:00

Um I used to be a late model uh a crew a crew chief on late model stock cars. Nice. Let's know. We we ran at uh you probably well, it's one of the most famous tracks, South Boston Speedway. Yeah, I know South Boston Speedway for Jeff Burton and Ward Burton, those boys made it famous. So uh yeah, I I was a crew chief there for many years. And wow and my buddy uh he made it to the trucks, so I got to go see the trucks here, a lot of truck races and stuff, man. There's some there is something about that NASCAR community, man. Yeah, for sure.

Drew Parker: 56:29

Yeah, and I and I love grassroots racing as well. I mean, I'm a huge late model stock, super late model guy. I mean, I I I just love stock car racing. So uh I I like that as a hobby. If I wasn't playing, if I wasn't so busy with music, that would probably be like a real hobby for me, like racing. I I'm just a fan of it now. I wouldn't say it's a hobby for me, but um, yeah, man, spending time with my with my wife and my girls and spending time with my friends, man. That that has been we live in Nashville, we don't we don't have any family here. Um so really building a community of of real friends and you know, you know, my this my D group, like growing friendships with them that are that are real friendships has been awesome. Um that's so cool, man. Yeah.

Chris Grainger: 57:19

And is that D group out of Long Hollow? Yeah, it is. It is. That's so cool, man. Awesome. What about favorite food, Drew? Where's what's your go-to there?

Drew Parker: 57:28

Oh, man, coming off Thanksgiving, that's tough. Uh right? What is my favorite food? Holy smokes. I mmm I man, I'm just a meat and potatoes guy, I guess. So give me uh like a filet mignon with some mashed good mashed potatoes and and corn, I guess. But but dude, I will say, I will eat anything. Like, I'm the least I'm the easiest person to go on a date with, with my wife, because I'm just like, we can literally go eat anywhere. I will I can find anything on a menu anywhere. I love all kinds of food. There you go.

Chris Grainger: 58:06

What about your uh movie? If you and your wife have a date night, and what's your all-time favorite movie?

Drew Parker: 58:11

What are you pulling up there? Man, that is tough. Um well, my my all-time favorite movie is Shawshank Redemption. There you go. That's a great one. Um I I think that's the greatest movie of all time. So um we're probably watching something, some sort of like crime drama. Also, like also like like crime like I don't know, crime movies. I actually have an idea for a movie that I want to write one day that is a that it's a it's a like a crime drama thriller.

Chris Grainger: 58:47

There you go. There you go. Good stuff, man. That's awesome. Well, look, uh, how about let's go. What's your favorite thing about God, Drew? When you think about him, what's your favorite thing? What comes to mind?

Drew Parker: 58:57

Man, that he j that he's been sovereign. I mean, honestly, that that he thinks that I'm worthy of of you know sending his son for. That like um honestly, and and just the blessings that he continues to give me and my wife and and my girls, um just that he's been sovereign over my life and that I can talk to him. That's right, man. And he answers.

Chris Grainger: 59:23

He definitely answers. What about let's flip it 180?

Drew Parker: 59:27

What's your least favorite thing about Satan? God. I love asking this question. My least favorite thing about Satan that he also knows how to talk to me. I don't talk to him, but he knows he knows what I don't need when I don't need it. Well, Drew, what do you hope guys remember the most from our conversation and and and what you're doing right now? Yeah, I man, I just won't, again, I won't, I won't, I just I wish men would truly, truly, truly take the Lord serious. Like, wake up, pick up your cross daily, follow after him. Not I I mean with a with a like with a vengeance, like follow after him, like because the Satan that you just that I just talked about, he he's putting stuff that we don't need in front of us when we leave when we don't need it. Like he is out to still kill and destroy us, and if we don't wake up with a vengeance to take care of him and put him to bed forever by following after Jesus with everything we have, he is going to take us out one by one. And and it's just time for us to take it serious. And I won't I just want to encourage men with that. Um, it has been crazy what the Lord's done in my life by doing that, reading the word, getting into the word. And listen, people are gonna say you're crazy. People are gonna say you're crazy for the football team you root for too. But you don't you don't bat an you it doesn't bother you that they call you crazy for rooting for a bad football team, but you you're nervous that they're gonna call you crazy for following after Jesus. Like, forget what the world has to say. Nobody I listen, it was this was this was tough for me. I mean, I left a massive worldly industry of country I and I I didn't leave country music. Don't don't hear what I'm not saying. But for me to go, for me to ask out of you know, a record deal in the country music industry to go check, people have called me crazy. They're like, what are you doing? Like But they're like, You're you're risking a career over there for you're risking this career for that one. And I'm like, No, you don't understand. You're you're mistaken. I'm not risking anything if I'm risking everything if I don't go do what God has for me. When I fully took a when I fully took a grasped the concept of storing treasure in heaven, it changed everything for me. Everything we do on this earth for that that brings glory and honor to our Lord and Savior, we're storing up treasure when we do that. So when we use our gifts and talents for his glory, we're constantly storing up treasure in heaven. Okay? When we get to heaven and that treasure is there, it's not ours. We're just going to take that treasure and we're going to give it right back to the one who gave it to us. We're talking about a man who died for us. Okay? If you're a believer, we're talking about a man who died for you. So if you're not doing things on this earth to store up treasure, to give back to the man who died for you, what are you doing? And I realize that when I, if I had died, I think I would have gone to heaven. I know I would have. But when I got there, I wouldn't have had very much treasure to give back to the one who died for me. So I'm going to spend the rest of my time here doing everything I can to bring glory and honor to him so that when I get there, I got a dump truckload of stuff to give back to the one who died. We're talking about a man who died for us. I want to give him, I want to be able to get, I want to, all the treasure that I've stored up in heaven while I'm here on earth, I want it to be a bunch. And so I want, I want to make sure that I do everything I can to be able to give everything to him. And you have to give everything to him now to be able to give everything to him or to be able to give a lot to him when you get there. And so I just want to encourage men, give it everything you've got to the Lord with intentionality. Wake up every day chasing after him. And I promise, man, what he'll have what he has for you in that obedience is more than you would ever dream of, more than you would ever imagine, more than you would know what to do with. Um, and it just makes everything better.

Chris Grainger: 1:03:51

Man, brother. I think when you get to the beam of seat, that's going to be a good time. You're going to really enjoy that because you're putting in the work now. And I mean, that's keep doing it, brother. Keep slaying it. I mean, you're doing a great job. You mentioned all the stuff you're doing on social. Like, where do you want guys to go to connect with you, to follow you, to support you, and everything that you're doing through?

Drew Parker: 1:04:10

Yeah, you can check out uh my music on any of the streaming platforms uh wherever you find music. I've only got Blame Jesus out there as the one Christian country song. If if you dig the if you listen to anything other than that, it's gonna be the country stuff that I've put out over the last 10 years, which I'm proud of. And, you know, um, it's just not where the Lord's got me now. So you can check out my music anywhere you listen to music. Um, follow me on Instagram, Facebook, all the social media platforms at Drew ParkerPlays. Um and man, I I really I try to share what the Lord's doing in my life and try to share things of encouragement uh with people. Um, and so you can you can really follow along really with my life, uh, just with what the Lord's doing with me at any of my social platforms.

Chris Grainger: 1:04:58

This is awesome.

Drew Parker: 1:04:59

Well make sure to do that. Oh, and you can get and you can get any of my merch, the Blame Jesus merch, yeah, on my on my website at Drew Parkermusic.com.

Chris Grainger: 1:05:07

Okay, because guys, I'm telling you, this shirt is dope, like right here, blame Jesus, the Drew Parker on the back, and also he's got the hat, got the hat right here, guys. So I'm telling you, go get the merch, go check it out.

Drew Parker: 1:05:17

Yeah, and I will say, I mean, I I I never thought of like selling merch or or having merch that was like a conversation starter, but that I mean this uh it it really is the back of the back of the shirt has a cross and it says I can't be who I was. And so if somebody comes up to you, you know, if you're wearing it and then and you're like, why what are you blaming Jesus for? You're like, well, let me just tell you about it. Let me tell you what he's done in my life. I can't be the man that I used to be, and I can only blame him for it because he has changed me so much. And it's man, it's a great, I think it's a great for for somebody who has a hard time sharing their testimony or or is scared to, just wear that shirt around. It'll help you.

Chris Grainger: 1:06:01

I can tell you, I wear it weekly and it and opens up so many conversations. So like the the my my uh orthopedic surgeon, she's you know, when she walked in my for my last meeting, I had this on, and and uh she's like, Well, you're gonna have to explain that one. I'm like, I'm happy to, you know, so we had to go. But I left Florida, bro, coming back to Carolina, and we stopped at Bucky's, I think the one in Georgia, and this dude came roaming up to me. He was just like, I he's like, at first I was frustrated with you, and then I saw the back of your shirt. He's like, that is the dopest shirt I've ever seen. And then we had this long conversation. Ended up praying praying for him in the middle of Bucky's people looking around. I'm like, why not, bro? Like, let's go. I love it. I love it. Awesome. Well, Drew, this has been an honor, man.

Drew Parker: 1:06:47

Anything else you want to share? No, man. I appreciate you. Thanks for what you're doing. Uh for you know, giving guys like me a platform and a voice to tell what the Lord's done in our life and hope that it encourages men along the way. And I know men need this podcast. They need what you have to say. Um, and I just appreciate you letting me talk about the Lord for a little bit, and uh, appreciate you.

Chris Grainger: 1:07:10

Hey, man. This is another just another perk of hanging out with Joby. So I'm so pumped. I got I ran and ran into you and behind backstage. That was awesome, and I knew we were gonna make this happen, brother. So appreciate you. Keep leaning in, brother. Thank you. So, guys, I told you that was gonna be a good one. So thankful for Drew for taking the time to hang out with us. Question of the week for you. Where's God asking you to wait right now when you want to act? Sometimes you gotta act. Sometimes you gotta take that step forward. Sometimes he's calling you to wait. So, depending on the season and where you're at, just think about that, reflect on that. And then hopefully some of the encouragement that Drew dropped for you is gonna be uh inspired, give you some inspiration along the way. So, guys, go check out his work. I'm telling you, you're not gonna be disappointed. Blame Jesus, love that song. If you don't do anything from this episode, just go Google the song Blame Jesus and listen to that. And I promise you'll be sending me a thank you for pointing you to that song. I'm telling you, it's just it's it's one it's a banger, boys. It's a banger. You're gonna have to listen to it. Hopefully, you're gonna enjoy it. Share it with your kids, share it with your wife, and uh, guys, just keep supporting what he's doing, okay? So again, thelionwithin.us is where you find all our resources, guys. Make it super easy for you. So just head over to thelionwithin.us, daily spiritual kickoff, community, leadership mastermind, all our Bible study plans that we write on the Bible app, guys. It's all right there in The Lion Within Us, okay? So connect with us there, give us a rating and review wherever you listen to this podcast. That would be awesome. And if you want to connect with us directly, you can even hit text. You can text us directly right there, and we'd love to hear from you on how we can serve, how we can encourage, and maybe how we need to pray for you. Just let us know that, okay? All right. We'll see you on our on our fun Friday. We'll be doing our member spotlight. So come back. I'm not gonna tell you which member it is, but look, guarantee you're gonna be inspired and encouraged by them. Guys, thank you so much for listening, for hanging out with us, and thank you again for Drew Parker for taking the time to come on today. All right, guys, get after it. Have a great day. Keep on leashing the lion within. If there's one habit that can change your home, it's this when a husband prays with his wife. Not because it's a magic formula, but because it recenters your marriage under God's authority and care. And let's be honest, a lot of guys want to do it, but most don't know how to start without it feeling awkward. Maybe you tried it before and it felt forced, or maybe you've never tried it because you don't even know what to say. Or maybe you're thinking, man, I'm not a pastor, I'm just a guy. And that's why we created this guide. It's our how to pray with your wife. Simple guide. It's biblical, it's practical, and it's designed to help you start praying with your wife in a way that actually feels natural. So it's a five-section guide and it gives you a simple framework to get started. Okay, it makes sure everything is grounded in scripture, and it also has a powerful PDF that you can pull up whenever you need, especially when things get off, because they're gonna get off. That's normal. So this is all about reclaiming your marriage and reclaiming the spiritual leadership reigns of your home because praying with your wife is one of the strongest ways to fight for unity, to build trust, and to right the ship when life starts to pull you off a course. So if you're ready, get access today at thelionwithin.uslash guides. That's thelionwithin.us slash guides and start unleashing the line within at home by leading your marriage through prayer.